hen we trust the Presence of God—really trust him with everything in our lives—he begins to trust and love each of us more and more personally. This mutual swirl of trust begins an astonishing dance of life and love with the real flesh and blood people in our lives.

As we take care of their needs, experience their joys, apply what we have learned through Revelation to their lives, suddenly we begin to recognize in them the Body we are dancing with! Jesus Christ. The Risen One. The Center of history. The Key to the universe. The “One through whom all things are made.”

Slowly, gently, all of life becomes filled with joy simply because we are attached to him. But this is not a case of a good attitude or an abundance of religious feeling! Events occur. Encounters take place. This dance with Christ is the dance of our day to day reality, an experience that can be verified with certainty.

How will he approach? In a way that is often a stunning surprise... and a soul-shaking challenge.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the rich young man’s encounter with Christ was an invitation to dance—to engage and be moved by his presence and mystery. Yet, the young man could not detach himself enough from his “many possessions” (wealth, power, career, personal plans) to enter into this deeper experience of friendship with Jesus (Matt 19:22). Perhaps the young man would not dance because he was afraid that his heart would not be completely fulfilled. Perhaps it was too much for him to believe that such a mysterious offer of companionship could fully realize his personal destiny.

Is your heart ready to follow Christ's lead in the great dance of life and love?

REALITY CHECK:DANCE speaks to the personal experience of real engagement with the living God: a time when something happened, you responded and were able to recognize his movement and presence in the event and/or encounter. The fruit of this infinite dance is an interior joy, even in the midst of sacrifice and difficulty.

Have small group members/students find their own examples of DANCE on the web...or create their own! Look for examples that show a real engagement with the Lord’s presence in everyday life. Send your favorites to jessica@lifeaftersunday.com and maybe we'll post them here.

Scriptural Links

There are many! Have small group members/students find some of their own.

Old Testament

Dance with Ruth and Boaz: Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field of anyone who will allow me that favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter,” and she went. The field she entered to glean after the harvesters happened to be the section belonging to Boaz of the clan of Elimelech. Boaz himself came from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!” and they replied, “The LORD bless you!” Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Whose girl is this?” The overseer of the harvesters answered, “She is the Moabite girl who returned from the plateau of Moab with Naomi.” (Ruth 2:2-6)

Dance with David: “Now then, speak thus to my servant David, ‘The Lord of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.’” (2 Sam 7:8-9)

New Testament

Dance with the shepherds: “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.” (Matt 2: 10-11)

Dance of Zacchaeus: “When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.’ And he came down quickly and received him with joy.” (Lk 19:5-6)

Opposite of Dance: Standing on the Sidelines...

“The chief priests, the scribes,and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.” (Lk 19:47-48)

Catechism Links

God is the sovereign master of his plan. But to carry it out he also makes use of his creatures’ co-operation. This use is not a sign of weakness, but rather a token of almighty God's greatness and goodness. For God grants his creatures not only their existence, but also the dignity of acting on their own, of being causes and principles for each other, and thus of co-operating in the accomplishment of his plan. (CCC #306)

God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us “partakers of the divine nature” and of eternal life. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ and into the joy of the Trinitarian life. (CCC #1721)

Personal Reflection or Group Discussion

Describe an event in your life where you sensed an invitation to engage with the Lord’s presence in your life. How did you respond? What action did you take? How did he respond back, through persons or circumstances?

Why is it reasonable that the Lord’s “dance floor” become your day-to-day reality—the people and events that move your heart?

Why is the Lord’s invitation also a provocation and challenge to follow him in a more radical way?

Why does a more intimate relationship with Christ naturally include a surprising invitation to walk into more intimate relationship with your own family members, friends, colleagues and yes, strangers?

As your relationship with Christ deepens, do you experience interior joy? Describe an event where this took place.